Multi-purpose grinding mill

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose pepper grinder having condiment container portions arranged generally coaxially with one another and sealingly divided by a partition member. A drive shaft extends axially through the condiment containers and the partition member, and is fixedly attached at either end to a grinding mechanism mounted in the end walls of respective containers. The grinding mechanism comprises two main sections, of which one is non-rotatably fixed to the shaft and the other is non-rotatably mounted in the container end wall. The sections are provided with inlet and outlet passages for the unground and ground condiment respectively.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,827,641 Andersson Aug. 6, 1974 MULTI-PURPOSE GRINDING MILL Primary ExaminerRoy Lake Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond lLe rt A d O f [75] Inventor gxz n ersson ors Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Salter & M chaelson [73] Assignee: Gullaskrufs Glasbruks AB, Orrefors,

Sweden ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; Sept, 29, 1972 A multi-purpose pepper grinder having condiment container portions arranged generally coaxially with [21 1 Appl' 293495 one another and sealingly divided by a partition memher. A drive shaft extends axially through the condi- [52] U.S. Cl. 241/101 R, 24l/l69.l me a n s an the pa t member, n s [51] Int. Cl. A47 j 42/04, A47j 42/10 fixedly attached at either end to a grinding mechanism [58] Field of Search 241/168, 169.1 m unt in the n walls of respective containers. The grinding mechanism comprises two main sections, of [56] Refer ces Cit d which one is non-rotatably fixed to the shaft and the UNITED STATES PATENTS other is non-rotatably mounted in the container end 595 48] 12/1897 J t hk t l 241,168 X wall. The sections are provided with inlet and outlet ena Sc 6 e a passages for the unground and ground condiment re- FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS spectively.

2 68 817,40l 5/1937 France 41/1 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures a- 26 I, 1 2 M 9 11 Z 20 i f 10 I i I a i 3 '4 K i )1 I 14 1 x l i I s PATENTED AUG 6 974 SNEEI 2 OF 2 1 MULTI-PURPOSE GRINDING MILL The present invention relates to a multi-purpose condiment grinding mill, and more particularly to a condiment grinding device for alternatively grinding two products, for example coarse salt and pepper corns, the word condiment being used here to denote seasoning substances having a grindable form.

As is well known, the use of table grinders intended for different types of condiments when preparing and eating food has become more and more popular, owing to an increased interest in seasoned dishes and new types of spices. A common feature of all known types of table grinders, however, is that they are only intended for grinding one single variety of spice or a single mixture of spices at a time. A number of such table grinders are described in different patent specifications, and reference can be made by way of example to the table grinder described in French Pat. No. 188,01 1.

Salt and pepper constitute the two main condiments used with all food preparing processes and at all meal times. Since it has become more usual to grind the salt and pepper at the actual moment of use, the need has arisen for a practical and inexpensive multi-purpose grinding mill, with which, for example, coarse particles of salt and pepper corns can be ground alternatively. The grinder should also be of the table type, that is to say capable of being used and placed on a dining table for example.

The object of the present invention is to fulfill these requirements by providing a new type of table grinder comprising but a few components of simple constructionand thereby also inexpensive.

In accordance with the invention, such a grinder is characterized in that the unground products are stored in two containers located in the grinder housing and separated by a common partition, said containers extending out from the partition in substantially opposite directions and being passed through by a common driving shaft which extend'sthrough the partition, and in that each container is provided in its end portion remote from the partition with a grinding mechanism, having a first main section, which is fixed relative to the container, and a second main portion, which is rotatably connected with the grinder driving shaft, and in that grinding of respective products is effected with the container bearing the condiment required turned with the grinding mechanism facing downwards, whereafter both main sections of the grinding mechanism are caused to rotate in relation to each other by twisting the container in relation to the grinder driving shaft, or vice versa.

The containers can be twisted relative to the grinder driving shaft by causing the containers to rotate relative to the fixed and therewith stationary driving shaft, by holding the appropriate container still and turning the driving shaft in relation thereto, or by rotating the container and the driving shaft in opposite directions.

In a preferred embodiment of the table grinder according to the invention, each container has the form of a substantially cylindrical or conical housing arranged concentrically with the grinder driving shaft and is provided with a sleeve portion of generally annular cross section which at its end remote from the dividing partition merges with a transversely extending end wall in which the grinding mechanism associated with that particular container is mounted, while the partition is rotatably connected with the grinder driving shaft through a central hub portion, and wherein said partition is sealingly connected by means of an outer, annular peripheral portion to the adjacent end portions of the sleeve portions of the two containers, the peripheral portion being directly accessible from outside the grinder, to enable rotation of the grinder driving shaft relative to the desired container, or vice versa.

The advantages afforded by this embodiment reside in the fact that the multi-purpose grinder obtains a slender, substantially rotation symmetrical form which is also attractive from an aesthetic point of view. The two halves of the grinder may also be manufactured from identical parts, thereby maintaining the manufacturing costs at a reasonable level.

To enable simple dismantling of the grinding, sothat the component parts thereof may be cleaned and to facilitate entry of the different products into the two grinder containers, it is suitable to arrange for the grinder driving shaft at the grinding mechanism of at least one container to extend right through the second main section of the mechanism and to provide said shaft at its free, outwardly projecting end with a threaded portion, which together with a nut means abutting the axially outer surface of the main section forms a detachable connection by means of which the component parts of the grinder are held together axially. In this respect, the end wall of the container may suitably be provided on the outside thereof with a circumferentially extending annular flange which projects axially outwards from the outer surface to such an extent that its free annular edge surface lies in a plane axially beyond the outermost portions of the detachable connection, so that the annular flange can be used as a pedestal surface.

The annular edge surface of the annular flange may suitably be provided with three or more recesses in a manner such that the edge surface between the recesses forms peripherally separated supports or feet on which the grinder can stand.

The containers are radially and axially guided at their end walls by respective grinding mechanisms. In order to permit the containers to be radially guided also at the dividing partition and, at the same time, to seal effectively thereagainst, to prevent the products from one container from passing into the other at their point of sliding contact, it is suitable to provide the peripheral portion of the partition at the region of the outside and/or the inside of the end portions of the two sleeves with a guide edge or guide strip extending around the outside and/or the inside of respective end portions and abutting the side of the sleeves.

These circumferentially extending strips may be arranged so that they define together on opposing sides of the partition an annular groove in which the end portions of the two container sleeves project and are guided therein.

Additional embodiments of the present invention together with further advantages afforded thereby will be evident from the following description, which is made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which FIG. 1 illustrates in longitudinal section a preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose grinding mill according to the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates partially in section an embodiment of the invention in which the containers form a common housing.

FIG. 3 illustrates in section a portion of an alternative embodiment of the grinding mill illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates in perspective a principle sketch of a grinder provided with a one-way latching mechanism at respective end walls of the containers.

FIG. 5 illustrates in section a portion of the grinder shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective and in a dismantled state two co-acting main sections of the grinding mechanism.

As will be seen from FIG. 1, the multi-purpose grinding mill of the present invention as illustrated in a preferred embodiment comprises two opposing containers 1 and 2 concentrically arranged around a common driving shaft 3. The containers extend from opposite sides of a common partition means 4 mounted for rotation relative to the containers and which, in the illustrated embodiment, is non-rotatably connected with the driving shaft 3. The products to be ground are stored in container chambers 5 and 6. Each of the containers is provided at one end thereof with a grinding mechanism 7, having a first main section 8 fixed relative to the container and a second main section 9 pivotally mounted on the shaft 3 by means of a spline and groove connection or the like. When using the grinder of the present invention, the container in which the desired condiment is stored is turned vertically downwards and the partition means, referred to hereinafter as twist member 4, is turned relative to the container, for example by holding the twist member stationary in one hand and rotating the container relative to the twist member. Each container comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve 10 which merges at its end remote from the twist member with an end wall 11, in which the grinding mechanism is housed. The twist member 4 includes a central hub portion 12 embodying the spline and groove connection, a wall portion 13 and an annular peripheral portion 14, which sealingly bears against adjacent end portions of the cylindrical container sleeves. In the case of the grinding mechanism 7 of the upper container, as shown in the Figure, the shaft 3 passes non-rotatably through the second main section 9 and is provided on its free end with a threaded portion 15, which together with a nut means 16 forms a detachable connection, by means of which the grinder components are held together axially. The other end of the shaft 3, that is the lower end of the shaft as seen in the drawing, is non-rotatably connected directly to the second main section of the lower grinding mechanism. The container end walls 11 are provided with a peripherally extending annular flange 17, the free edge surface 18 of which lies in a plane located axially externally of the outermost portions of the screw-nut connection, so that the annular flange can be used as a foot when placing the grinder on a table for example. Obviously, the container 2 need not be provided with an annular flange in those instances when the container grinding mechanism is not provided with outwardly projecting detachable connections, but since in practice it is preferred from the aspect of manufacturing costs that two identical containers are used, the lower container of FIG. 1 is also provided with an annular flange.

The peripheral portion of the partition or twist member 4, which seals against the container sleeves 10, is shown in FIG. 1 with the outer surfaces of the sleeves in abutment with guide edges 19, although the guide edges may equally as well be arranged on the inside of the sleeves, or both on the inside and the outside of said sleeves.

As previously mentioned, each grinding mechanism comprises two main sections, namely the ring-shaped first main section 8 and the conical second main section 9. The main section 9 is non-rotatably but detachably mounted on the end of the shaft 3 by means of one or more planar surfaces 20 for example, arranged on said shaft and latchingly co-acting with one or more corresponding surfaces in the hole passing through said main section. In turn, the main section 8 is nonrotatably mounted to the outside of the end wall 11. Interlocking of the main section 8 and the wall 11 can be effected in many different ways, e.g. by providing an edge flange 21 of the main section 8 with a recess in which a shoulder 23 on the end wall 11 may engage.

When grinding the product contained in the chamber 5, the container 1 thus being turned to face downward, the product falls under its own weight down into inlet ports 24 and 25 disposed in the first and second main sections respectively. In order for the product to be ground effectively, a number of ports or grooves should be provided in each main section, e.g. three grooves 24 in section 8 and four grooves 25 in section 9. The grooves 24 and 25 open out into a conical seating 26 located between the main sections 8 and 9, the coacting (grinding) surfaces of the seating being provided with friction creating means in the form of ridges or teeth.

When breaking the multi-purpose grinding mill illustrated in FIG. 1 down into its component parts, for example for cleaning the separate components or to refill the containers, the screw means 16 is first removed from the shaft 3, whereafter the two main sections of the grinding mechanism can be removed. The container l is then lifted away from the common partition member 4 and the partition member slid from the shaft 3.

With the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the two containers together form a single housing 27 having a cylindrical sleeve which merges at the ends thereof with transversely extending end walls, in which respective grinding mechanisms are arranged. A partition member 28 dividing chambers 5 and 6 is connected at its periphery to the inside of the sleeve and is through passed at its centre by a rotatable driving shaft which shaft at the ends thereof axially externally of the grinding mechanisms is non-rotatably connected with a twist member 29. With this embodiment, the products are ground by rotating the twist member in relation to the housing 27. The twist member also serves as a support when placing the grinder on a table for example.

With the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the grinder has two separate containers 30 and 31 divided by a member 32 non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 3. The grinder is also in this instance provided at the ends thereof with a twist member, similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is solely intended to illustrate how a table grinder according to the invention can be provided with a one-way latching mechanism 33, thereby obviating the provision of a special twist member or members. With this embodiment of the grinder, the products are ground by rotating one container 34 in relation to the other 35. With this embodiment a partition member 36 (FIG. 5) is non-rotatably mounted or rotatably mounted at its central portion relative the shaft 3, and by means of its peripheral portion 37 holds the sleeves 35 and 36 apart. The latching mechanism 33 is operative between the second main section 9 of the grinding mechanisms and an adjacent end wall 38 or the first main section 8. In their simplest form, the latching mechanisms include a toothed wheel 39 non-rotatably mounted relative the shaft 3 and a spring loaded catch 40 biased towards the wheel 39. The latching mechanism permits rotation only in a direction between the main section 9 and the main section 3, and therewith between the shaft 3 and the container 34.

FIG. 6 illustrates the main parts 8 and 9 in a dismantled state.

With regard to the choice of material from which the component members of the multi-purpose grinding mill are made, it is mentioned that the containers should suitably be made of a transparent material, such as glass or a clear plastics material, so that it can readily be observed when the grinder needs refilling. The twist member or wall 4 and the twist member 29 may be made of wood or a plastics material, for example. The grinding mechanism and the drive shaft should preferably be made of a suitable metal or metal alloy. The shaft extending through the containers, however, should be made from a material, or coated with a material which is not subject to attack by the products to be ground. These materials however, are not restrictive to the invention, but are only mentioned by way of suggestion.

What is claimed is:

1 A multi-purpose grinding mill for selectively grinding and dispensingdifferent materials such as coarse salt and pepper corns, comprising opposed containers of generally cylindrical configuration and in each of which a material is located for grinding and dispensing, a partition member located between said containers and defining a common wall therebetween, a shaft extending through said containers and partition in coaxial relation therewith and fixed to said partition for rotation therewith, each of said containers having an end wall formed on the outer end thereof that is remote from said partition, a grinding mechanism located at the outer end of each "container and including a first section that is fixed in the end wall of each container and a second section that is fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and adjacent to said first section for cooperation therewith during a grinding operation, and a peripheral portion joined to said partition and located exteriorly of said containers and in sealing engagement therewith but rotatable relative thereto, said peripheral portion and said containers being rotatable relative to each other, wherein a selected material as located in a container is ground therein and dispensed therefrom by positioning the grinding mechanism of such container in a downwardly facing direction and rotating such container relative to the drive shaft and peripheral portion or vice versa, thereby producing relative movement of the sections of said grinding mechanism for grinding said material therebetweenand for dispensing the ground material outwardly therefrom.

2. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 1, said shaft extending through the second section of the grinding mechanism of at least one of said containers and having a threaded portion formed on the outer end thereof, and nut means engaging said threaded portion and abutting the outer surface of the second section through which said shaft extends for detachably securing the grinding mechanism, containers and peripheral portion together as a unitary construction.

3. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 2, the end wall of at least one of said containers having a peripherally extending annular flange formed thereon, said annular flange projecting outwardly beyond the outermost portion of the connection of said nut means to the outer end of said shaft and defining a foot for supporting said containers in an upright position.

4. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 2, said containers having interior end portions formed thereon, said peripheral portion having annular grooves formed thereon that receive said end portions in sealing engagement therewith.

5. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 1, said peripheral portion including an axially extending surface that provides for the gripping thereof when rotating the containers relative thereto, a central hub portion joined to said shaft and joined to said partition for interconnecting said partition to said shaft.

6. A multi-purpose grinding mill for selectively grinding different materials such as coarse salt and pepper corns, comprising opposed containers of generally cylindrical configuration and in each of which a material is located for grinding, a central partition member separating said containers, a drive shaft extending through said containers and partition in coaxial relation therewith, and drivingly connected to said partition, each of said containers having end portions located adjacent to the partition, said partition including a peripheral portion that axially separates and sealingly abuts the end portions of said containers, each of said containers having an end wall that is located remote from said partition, and a grinding mechanism mounted in the remote end of each container and including a first section that is fixed in the end wall thereof, and a second section that is fixed to said shaft and is located in adjacent relation to said first section and cooperating therewith to grind a material therebetween, and a one-way latching mechanism located between the second section and the end wall of each container for permitting mutual rotation between said sections in one direction only, wherein grinding of a material in a container is accomplished by locating the grinding mechanism of a container in a downwardly facing direction and rotating said sections of the downwardly facing grinding mechanism with respect to each other by rotation of the container relative to the drive shaft or vice-versa. 

1. A multi-purpose grinding mill for selectively grinding and dispensing different materials such as coarse salt and pepper corns, comprising opposed containers of generally cylindrical configuration and in each of which a material is located for grinding and dispensing, a partition member located between said containers and defining a common wall therebetween, a shaft extending through said containers and partition in coaxial relation therewith and fixed to said partition for rotation therewith, each of said containers having an end wall formed on the outer end thereof that is remote from said partition, a grinding mechanism located at the outer end of each container and including a first section that is fixed in the end wall of each container and a second section that is fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and adjacent to said first section for cooperation therewith during a grinding operation, and a peripheral portion joined to said partition and located exteriorly of said containers and in sealing engagement therewith but rotatable relative thereto, said peripheral portion and said containers being rotatable relative to each other, wherein a selected material as located in a container is ground therein and dispensed therefrom by positioning the grinding mechanism of such container in a downwardly facing direction and rotating such container relative to the drive shaft and peripheral portion or vice versa, thereby producing relative movement of the sections of said grinding mechanism for grinding said material therebetween and for dispensing the ground material outwardly therefrom.
 2. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 1, said shaft extending through the second section of the grinding mechanism of at least one of said containers and having a threaded portion formed on the outer end thereof, and nut means engaging said threaded portion and abutting the outer surface of the second section through which said shaft extends for detachably securing the grinding mechanism, containers and peripheral portion together as a unitary construction.
 3. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 2, the end wall of at least one of said containers having a peripherally extending annular flange formed thereon, said annular flange projecting outwardly beyond the outermost portion of the connection of said nut means to the outer end of said shaft and defining a foot for supporting said containers in an upright position.
 4. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 2, said containers having interior end portions formed thereon, said peripheral portion having annular grooves formed thereon that receive said end portions in sealing engagement therewith.
 5. A multi-purpose grinding mill as claimed in claim 1, said peripheral portion including an axially extending surface that provides for the gripping thereof when rotating the containers relative thereto, a central hub portion joined to said shaft and joined to said partition for interconnecting said partition to said shaft.
 6. A multi-purpose grinding mill for selectively grinding different materials such as coarse salt and pepper corns, comprising opposed containers of generally cylindrical configuration and in each of which a material is located for grinding, a central partition member separating said containers, a drive shaft extending through said containers and partition in coaxial relation therewith, and drivingly connected to said partition, each of said containers having end portions located adjacent to the partition, said partition including a peripheral portion that axially separates and sealingly abuts the end portions of said containers, each of said containers having an end wall that is located remote from said partition, and a grinding mechanism mounted in the remote end of each container and including a first section that is fixed in the end wall thereof, and a second section that is fixed to said shaft and is located in adjacent relation to said first section and cooperating therewith to grind a material therebetween, and a one-way latching mechanism located between the second section and the end wall of each container for permitting mutual rotation between said sections in one direction only, wherein grinding of a material in a container is accomplished by locating the grinding mechanism of a container in a downwardly facing direction and rotating said sections of the downwardly facing grinding mechanism with respect to each other by rotation of the container relative to the drive shaft or vice versa. 